Generator for use with internal combustion engines



Nov. 17,1936. c, MORLEY GENERATOR FOR UsE WITH INTERNAL comBusTioNENelNEs Filed June, 21, 1954 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 'Cfidrlas EMorley ATTORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1936. I c, MORLEY I 2,061,002

' GENERATOR FOR USE WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 21, 19342 Sheets-Sheet 2 4/ 40 if 49 v I INVENTOR. CfiarZeS Z: M0716 W z/al ATTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES GENERATOR FOR USE WITH INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES cranes E. Morley, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 21, 1934, Serial No. 731,682"

' Claims. (Cl. 122-24) This invention relates to steam generators, theobject being to provide a boiler associated with the automobile engineto receive the heat of the combustion gases to quickly transform a small5 body of water to steam, the quantity of-water in the boiler beinginsufficient to produce pressures destructive of the apparatus.

It is further an object and feature of the invention to provide a steamgenerator including a boiler element carried in the casing which may beinserted in the spark plug aperture of the engine and opening to thecombustion chamber whereby the combustion gases may circulate about theboiler element to heat the water.

It is further an object and feature of the invention to provide a steamgenerating apparatus consisting of a boiler element attachable to theengine cylinder as hereinafter described.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form ofconstruction of a steam generator embodying my inven-. tion is shown inthe accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation partly insection showing one form of my improved steam generating device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section showing the boiler construction taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the sleeve supported in thepartitionbetween the body and engine compartment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of another form of the device.

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. 7

In Fig. 1, the partition wall between the passenger and enginecompartments of an automobile is indicated at i, a portion of the enginebeing indicated at 2 and the combustion chamber at 3. In the engine headis a threaded aperture 4 in which the spark plug 5 is usually threaded.In this case, however, the boiler element 6 has a tubular extension I ofthe casing 8 threaded in the spark plug opening. The boiler elementcomprises an external casingB of a hollow cone like form having a cap 9secured to the upper open end thereof in any approved manner as bythreading the same thereinto. The cap 9 has a central depression l0formed with a threaded aperture to receive the threaded end of the sparkplug 5. The boiler proper consists of a cone like element ll hollowinform and having a central aperture I! with which the spark plug isclosely associated and in alignment with the extension I of the casingthus providing a passageway for gases.

On the compression stroke of the engine piston, the gases are forcedinto the passageway I and aperture i2 opening to the spark plugterminals and are ignited by the spark plug in the usual manner. Thusthe heat of the burning gases is applied directly to this boiler elementH which is spaced from the cap and walls of the casing 8 permitting theburning gases to pass about the inner and outer walls of the boiler aswell as centrally thereof at the point 12.

The boiler structure, indicated generally at 6, is comparatively small,the boiler at its upper end preferably for the usual automobile beingabout four inches in diameter and the distance from the top of theboiler to the bottom also about four inches in length. As this boilerwill hold less than one-half pint of water, the water is quickly changedto steam and the radiator practically immediately will transfer heat tothe passenger compartment. There is a hollow tubular stud l3 secured tothe upper end of the boiler element at one side and extends through anaperture in the cap 9 provided therefor and a gasket I4 is providedabout the tube i3-between the upper edge of the boiler and the cap and asimilar gasket i5 is provided between the cap and the nut Hi thereon.Thus the aperture for the tube I3 is sealed to prevent an escape ofsteam. The steam line I! is connected to the hollow stud l3 as by meansof a coupling l8 of any approved form. On the diametrically oppositeside of the boiler element II is a tubular stud l9 which extendsoutwardly through the cap in the same manner as the stud l3 andconnected by a similar coupling with the return line 20. The tubularstud H! has an extension 2i leading to nearly the bottom of the boilerwhile the tubular stud l3 opens directly to the top of the boiler.

The partition wall l has an aperture for a threaded sleeve 2|, whichsleeve, as will be understood from Fig. 3, has a slot 22 therein toreceive the lines l1 and 20 which are preferably spaced apart as shown.

The end of the sleeve extends from the passenger compartment into theengine compartmerit and is there provided with a nut 23 and lock washer35 and the opposite end of the sleeve is provided with a large head 24which is preferably provided with points Mo on the face thereof towardthe partition I- that are caused to cut into the partitionmember by thetightening of the nut 23 and thus hold the sleeve from accidentalrotation. The head 24 also has a bracket 25 on each of its oppositesides which brackets extend upwardly and inwardly of the passengercompartment to beneath a clamping band 26 on the motor casing, the twobrackets being on diametrically opposite sides of the motor casing andsuspending the motor. These brackets are outturned at the ends 28 andmay be attached in any desired manner as by a bolt '29 to the radiatorcasing 30. It is not important what the radiator structure may be butpreferably the outer shell 30 is open at 3| in the rear face and withinthis outer shell is a cylindrical shell 34 of hexagonal cross sectionhaving tubes 34a. extending therethrough from the front to the rearthrough which air may be drawn. To the upper end of the shell 34 isconnected the conduit [1 for the heated fluid and to the lower side iscon nected the return line 20. The motor casing is supported centrallyof the inner radiator element 34 and a fan 32 on the motor shaft isforward of. this radiator element 34 by means of which air is drawnthrough the tubes and across the radiator. A shutter member having theblades 33 is mounted on the shell 30, which blades may be hinged ifdesired to vary the direction of flow of the heated air.

The boiler element, indicated generally at 40, extends to one side onlyof the spark plug as will be understood from the plan view Fig. 5. It issometimes necessary to use this construction due to the peculiarity ofconstruction of the engine or parts associated therewith on or adjacentthe -upper ends of the engine cylinder which would prevent the use of acone form of. boiler socket has a flanged opening indicated at 46 and inthis opening is an externally flanged hollow ferrule 41 threaded intothe spark plug opening 45. The ferrule 41 may be notched on oppositesides as at 48 to permit an operator to thread the same to place and tothus secure the boiler structure imposition. The ferrule isdiametrically opposite a threaded opening in the upper wall of the neckin which the spark plug 49 is inserted. The spark plug may be of aspecial form in which the porcelain extension 50 is sufficiently long toenter the ferrule and this carries one terminal 5| of the electriccircuit and the ferrule may be provided with the opposing terminal 52.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the spark plug is above its normalposition in respect to the engine cylinder and in some cases this may beundesirable. shown in Fig. 4, the spark plug terminals occupy the normalposition or practically the normal.

position of those of the usual plug when inserted in the threadedaperture 45. The ferrule 41 is of tubular form as shown and the gases onthe compression stroke of the engine may be. forced up into the shell orcasing formed by the walls 4| and 42. In this casing is mounted theboiler' proper indicated at 53 which may be of comparatively thin metaland provided with a threaded stem 54 at the top of the boiler and asimilar stem 55 near the lower end thereof. To these stems are connectedrespectively the steam and Therefore by the construction return lines ofthe same character as shown in Fig. 1 leading to a radiator. The boiler53 in the form shown in Fig. 4 is spaced from the wall of the casing asis the relationship of the parts shown in Fig. 1 permitting the gases ofcombustion to contact the entire exterior surface of the boiler wall 53.This boiler functions in the same manner and is equally as eflicient asthe form,

of construction shown in Fig. 1 and is superior in some respectsparticularly in that the spark plug, although of special form, has theelectric terminals in more technically correct position in the cylinderhead of the engine. As both devices are equally as efficient and eachincorporates the same generalfeatures of construction and resultantoperation, the invention may be embodied in both these or other formswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appendedclaims.

' From the foregoing description it will be evident that the deviceissimple in-- form and is readily disassembled by disconnecting theunions I8 with the respective tubes l3 and IQ of the boiler and, byremoval of the nut 23 and lock washer 35, the entire structure may bewithdrawn through the opening provided in the partition I for thesleeve. The boiler element may be removed from the engine head whereuponthe spark plug 5 may be re-inserted in the aperture 4 of the engineblock. It will also be observed that by use of not more than a half pintof water, a continuous flow of steam will be'provided through the lineI! to the radiator and of condensed steam through the return line 20 tothe boiler and thus a continuous circulation of the steam in theradiator is maintained. Due to the small quantity of water utilized, thepressures to which the structure is submitted are not sufiiciently greatto cause disruption of the parts and a quick production of steamresults. It has also been found that the engine operates efficientlyeven through the spark plug 5 be removed a distance from its usualposition relative to the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder asthe tubular portions 1 and I2 are filled with an explosive gas on thecompression stroke. When the fuel charge is fired, there is aconsiderable flame discharged directly into the combustion chamber andalso the burning gases circulate about the walls of the boiler elementproper indicated at l l, and thus are in position to be sufficientlyheated for the purpose as heretofore stated.

It is to be noted that the boiler structure, which includes the casing 8as well as the inner boiler shell I I, may be of different form thanthat shown in the drawings. It is however preferable, whatever the formof the boiler structure may be, that the spark plug 5 should align withthe tubular portion 1 supported in the spark plug opening.

It is also pointed out that the boiler and radiator element vary insize, firstly for. different installations as passenger cars, motorbusses, aeroplanes etc., some of which require greater heatingcapacities than a passenger automobile. v Also in'the event it is notdesired to reduce thewater to steam, the boiler element and system maybe considerably larger and the boiler element need not have so great asurface exposed to the influence of heat of the combustion gases.

Having thus briefly described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- 1. The combination with an internal combustion enginehaving a cylinder and a spark plug 2,001,002 opening for thecylinder-[oi a casing provided with a tubular extension threaded intothe spark plug-opening, a spark plug mounted in the casing andcommunicating with the cylinder through-the tubular extension of thecasing, an annular water tank mounted in the casing about the spark plugand having an opening in the center between the tubularextension and thespark plug, an inlet and an outlet conduit and means associatedtherewith (or supporting the water chamber in spaced relationv with the.wall of the casing; the inlet and outlet conduits opening into thewater chamber.

2. The combination with an internal co'mlmstion engine having a cylinderand a spark plug opening tor the cylinder, of a casing provided with atubular extension threaded into the spark plug opening, a spark plugmounted in the casing and communicating with the cylinder through thetubular extension oi the casing, a water chamber mounted within thecasing, an inlet and an outlet conduit connected to the water chamberand secured to the casing, and means for supporting the water chamber inspaced relation with the wall of the casing.

8. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a cylinderand a spark plug opening for the cylinder, of a casing provided withgatubular extension threaded into thespark plug opening. a' spark plugmounted in the casing and communicating with the cylinder through the Itubular extension of the casing. a water chamber mounted withinthe'casing and spaced from the wall 0! the casing and an inlet andoutlet connecj tion !or the water-chamber. 4. The combination with aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder and a spark plug openingfor the cylinder, 0! a casing threaded into the spark plug opening andopen to the interior with the interior of the engine cylinder, a' waterchamber mounted in the casing and spaced from the wall of the casing. aninlet and an outlet conduit for the water chamber, and a spark plugmounted in the casing.

11:. MORLEY.

